A few weeks after she had joined the Inquisition, Garin had asked that Caelia and Blackwall go on a special mission to clear out some bandits in the Hinterlands near the Crossroads that had been causing a lot of trouble for the scouts and other Inquisition forces stationed out there. He had faith that just the two of them could take care of things on their own, but assured them they'd have the assistance should they need it.

Caelia wasn't sure about spending who knew how long alone with Blackwall, and Blackwall wasn't either. Caelia had begun to wonder if Blackwall disliked her for some reason, as he had been avoiding her quite often. And when they departed on their journey, barely a word was spoke. When they made camp that night, Caelia and Blackwall sat on opposite ends of the firepit eating their own food, still not a word spoken between them.

After an hour or so, Blackwall looked up at Caelia as his mind wandered back to memory land.

"Thom!"

Thom looked up to see Caelia running up to meet him. He smiled, shouldering the axe and standing straight. "Hello, Cae."

Caelia smiled, looking up at him. "So I was wondering if we're still on for later?"

"Of course, I wouldn't miss it."

"OK, I just wanted to make sure. I'm making something special for you."

"You don't have to, Cae."

"Nope, I don't want to hear that." Caelia replied, shaking her head with a smile that just seemed to keep growing and growing. "It's your birthday and we're going to celebrate."

Thom chuckled. "You always remember."

"Of course, silly, what kind of friend would I be if I didn't?" Caelia's smile turned into a full blown grin as she stepped back. "So meet at the willow in an hour?"

"Meet at the willow in an hour." Thom replied, smiling when Caelia gave him a wave and took off towards her home. "Maker, she's something."

"So, Blackwall..."

Blackwall looked at Caelia, surprised that she was the one who broke the silence. "Yes?"

"Did I do something to offend you?" Caelia was very curious, but she was worried she'd step out of line on the matter. "You've been avoiding me since that night after the tavern."

Blackwall sighed. "I apologize... You remind me of an old friend and it caught me off guard."

"I must remind you of them quite a bit if you're avoiding me like the Blight."

Blackwall sighed once more, looking from her to the fire. "It was not my intention to do so."

Caelia offered him a smile. "It's alright, Blackwall, no harm done. I'm just glad there was nothing I did to upset you."

"No, not in the slightest bit."

"Good, I'm glad to hear it." She stood and gave him a bow of the head. "Thank you for a wonderful meal, I'll be sure to prepare the next."

Blackwall watched as she slipped into their tent and sighed, rubbing his temples. 'Maker's breath...' Waiting a bit before following suit, Blackwall stared up at the stars for a moment then ducked under the tent flap and stepped towards his bedroll. As he undid his armor and set it to the side, he looked over at Caelia and found that she had already fallen asleep.

'Still as beautiful as the day I met you...' he thought, a sad and small smile playing across his lips. But that smile faded when he thought back to that night, twenty-six years ago; the night that changed their relationship forever.

"Cae, can I ask you something?"

"Anything, Thom, you know that."

"Why did you help me all those years ago?"

"What, when we first met?"

"Mmhmm."

"Well, you know I don't put up with anyone's shit and those boys were bullying you for saving a defenseless pup after they had already done a number on him. You were doing the right thing and I admired that. You put yourself at risk for another and I respected that."

"That's it?"

"Well that, and I thought you were really cute, too." Caelia looked over at him as they sat under their favorite willow tree and chuckled when she saw the look of surprise on his face. "You're still pretty cute, too."

"A grown man shouldn't be called cute."

"You're right." Caelia leaned over and planted a kiss on his cheek. "A grown man should be called dashing or handsome or rugged or strapping. All of which you are."

Thom sat there, dumbfounded for a moment, then he leaned in and repaid her cheek kiss with one of his own- but on her lips. He lingered as long as he dared, then pulled back to see Caelia was just as surprised as he felt. "S-Sorry..."

When he started to look away, Caelia reached up and cupped his cheek in her hand- turning him back towards her and rewarded him with a kiss on the lips. She lingered as long as he had, then pulled back and smiled. "You never have to be sorry for that."

That night had been one of the best in his life, but he knew it couldn't continue. He was leaving the village, setting out on a very important journey that he couldn't bring her along on. He had really come to care for her, but he didn't want to put her life at risk, not after everything they had been through together. She was his best friend, someone he could have seen himself marrying and building a life with if things had turned out different.

As he watched her sleep, he took in her glacial-silvery hair as it pooled around her, her fair skin, the light blue tattoo and scars that weren't there twenty-six years ago. It amazed him that physically she had changed so much in contrast to her not changing at all as a person. But he was happy about that; he loved who she was, her personality, her mindset, all of it. Then as those thoughts made their way into his mind, he began wondering if he still held feelings for her after all these years.

Caelia shifted in her sleep, rolling onto her back with her face turned away from him. He chuckled softly to himself, made sure she had a blanket- though with her being an ice and wind mage the cold never bothered her, so it was probably pointless. Still, he made sure she could stay warm and settled into his own bedroll for the night, grateful for the protection barrier that Caelia had erected around their camp.

'Maker, this will be a long trip...'